Texts by Lucas Ajemian and Colin GardnerConversation with Daniel Birnbaum

The work produced by Mike Bouchet in recent years seems to present a compulsion to alter one’s place in the world by reproducing and re-contextualizing “desirable” things in and of the world. His projects and exploits are one-to-one models—real transactions with their own autonomy and agency. You cannot alter your place in the world without first altering your image of the world. Bouchet’s endeavor goes beyond representation or a kind of DIY prudence, into what can best be described as a real-life parody. This artist uses everything at his disposal to grow, package, and pitch his own products. In systems such as these, even real transactions are not completely convincing, the reification of one’s product through extensive image production is needed to make it completely viable. Lucas Ajemian